History

From 1993 to 2005 UFH acted as a collection system for cooling & freezing appliances according to the Austrian law then in force. In 2005 the UFH WEEE scheme was founded by the industry- and commerce-driven UFH Privatstiftung, a partner organisation of the Association of the Austrian Electrical and Electronics Industries (FEEI), to fulfil the requirements of the European WEEE directive. UFH, since August 2005, is divided into two companies:

• UFH Elektroaltgeräte Systembetreiber GmbH (focusing on waste EEE)
• UFH Altlampen Systembetreiber GmbH (focusing on waste lamps)

Since 2008 UFH also acts as a collection scheme for portable and industrial batteries.

Logistic system/Treatment partners

UFH has 33 logistic partners. Some of whom are municipal waste associations, others are private companies. The logistic partners of the system have to provide a regional collection point in each district of Austria (totalling 100) which they are responsible for. They have to collect WEEE from municipal collection facilities (>2.000) and to transport it to treatment partners within the system.

UFH has 18 treatment partners. They all have to fulfil and document high treatment standards.